Control apparatus



A. J. HALL. CONTROL APPARAFUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6. 9E6.

Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

2 I Q E i /5 n :dll 7 WITNESSES: INVENTOR 65 Mm J fla// ATTORNEY TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR J. HALL, OF WILKINSBURG,.PENNBYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING CGMEENY, A GOR10RATIQN OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CONTROL APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

Application filed June 6, 1916. Serial No. 101,960.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR J. HALL, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Control Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to control apparatus and especially to the construction and op eration' of liquid rheostats.

. One object of my invention is to provide a device of the above-indicated character wherein the entrance velocity of the liquid shall be reduced to a suitable value and admitted to the rheostat tank proper without the formation of eddies or the occur rence of harmful splashing.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide a liquid-admitting device for liquid rheostats which shall insure that the maximum flow or movement of liquid occurs at the surface thereof throughout the changes in liquid level, whereby a most effective dissipation of heat and a maintenance of steady operating conditions are accomplished.

More specifically stated, it is an object of my invention to provide a liquid-admitting device which shall initially impart a spiral. movement to the liquid, and a weir device located below the flush-level plane of the rheostat for effecting the entrance of liquid to the rheostat tank proper.

My invention may best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure l is a plan view, with parts broken away, of a liquid rheostat constructed in accordance with my invention; and Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, the structure shown comprises a main tank 1; a liquidcontaining reservoir 2 located below the tank;- a liquid-admitting device 3 that is disposed near one side of the tank 1; a combined discharge and regulating valve 4: that is located near the opposite side of the tank; and a plurality of suitable electrodes 5 that are supported-in any appropriate manner intermediate the liquid-admitting device 3 and the outlet valve 4.

The bottom wall of the tank 1 is provided with a suitable discharge opening 6 at the ce ter of a depre si n, or well 12 within which opening the valve 4 is adapted to operate, as hereinafter more fully set forth; while the reservoir 2 has a bottom discharge passage or pipe 7. I preferably employ a continuous flow of electrolyte during all periods of rheostat operation and, in order to effect such a continuous flow, any suitable pumping means (not shown) may be interpdsed between the discharge passage 7 and the liquid-admitting device 3, as will be understood.

The liquid-admitting means 3 comprises a tubular member or pipe 8 extending across the tank 1, near one end thereof; that is, extending transversely to the electrodes 5, and is provided with a distributing side opening or slot 9 which communicates with a velocity-reducing ihamber 10 from which the liquid is admitted to the tank proper through the agency of a suitable weir device 11 that is located higher than the discharge opening 6 but below the flush-level plane of the rheostat, for a purpose to be described.

The incoming liquid flows through the relatively constricted side opening 9 of the tube 8 into the chamber 10 which has such dimensions that the velocity of the liquid is reduced to a suitable value without any harmful splashing and thus follows a spiral path from the tube 8 through the chamber 10, over the weir device 11 and between the various electrodes 5 toward the well 12 and the combined discharge and regulating valve i. By using the construction just described, the liquid is admitted to the tank proper even when the outlet valve is open, without the formation of any eddies or injurious splashing in the tank, and such desirable conditions obtain throughout the operation of the liquid rheostat by reason of the location of the weir device 11 below the flush-level plane of the rheostat. Morever, by reason of the spiral movement of the incoming liquid and of the well-known weir action, the maximum flow or motion the liquid always occurs at the top surface of the electrolyte, whereby a most thorough heat-dissipating circulation of the liquid is assured.

The provision of the Well 12 is advantageous in that splashing at the tank outlet is obviated, and the increased static head at the opening 6 correspondingly increases the gravity exhaust or outlet speed of the liquid. Moreover, a receptacle is thus provided to catch debris and thereby serve to prevent sticking of the valve.

To effect an equal distribution of incoming liquid throughout the length of the tube 8, a suitably tapered side opening may be utilized, as set forth and claimed in a co pending application of C. C. WVhittaker, Serial No. 134,762, filed Dec. 2, 1916, and assigned to the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company.

The discharge means 4 comprises a lower tubular portion 15 that has a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the bottom tank opening 6, an upper tubular portion 16 of reduced diameter which is continuously connected with the lower portion 15; a plurality of guiding webs or ribs 17 externally disposed upon the upper portion 16,- and the outside diameter of which ribs is substan-- tially equal to the diameter of the lower portion 15; a yoke member 18 that is located near the top of the upper valve portion 16; and an actuating rod 19 which is secured to the yoke 18 and extends through the top wall of the tank 1.

The valve just described forms no part of my present invention except in so far as it performs a certain necessary function in connection therewith, and is fully set forth and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 873,919, filed Nov. 26, 1914, wherein is also shown the preferred fluid-pressure-operated mechanism for actuating the valve in accordance with the predetermined conditions. However, inasmuch as the particular type of operating mechanism is not relevant to the present invention, I have not deemed it necessary to set forth any such mechanism.

The operation of my invention may be briefly set forth as follows: Liquid enters the tube 8 from the above-mentioned pumping means, for example, flows through the side opening 9 into the chamber 10, where its velocity is suitably reduced without splashing, and thus liquid flows over the weir device 11 along the bottom of the tank 1 to the well 12 and the opening 6 which discharges the liquid into the reservoir 2 when the valve 4 occupies the normal or lowest position that is illustrated. To effect initial operation of the rheostat, the outlet valve 4 is actuated upwardly until the top of the tubular member 16 substantially coincides with the flush-level plane of the liquid rheostat which is designated by the dotted lines and legend F lush-level. Under such conditions, the tips of the electrodes 5 are just immersed to initially complete the circuit to be governed. The liquid level rises to the flush-level plane; by reason of the fact that the lower portion 15 of the outlet valve 4 is located within the bottom tank opening 6 when the valve is moved upwardly to the point indicated, and thus the discharge of the continuously flowing electrolyte occurs through the tubular members 16 and 15 to the reservoir 2.

To efi'ect further operation of the rheostat, the outlet valve 4 is moved upwardl to any desired position, thus correspond ingly fixing the electrolyte level and gradually increasing the submerged portion of the electrodes 5 to accordingly decrease the governed-circuit resistance, as will be understood.

However, throughout the operation just described, the liquid is continuously admitted to, and discharged from, the tank proper without the formation of any eddies or injurious splashing, and the maximum flow of the liquid is maintainedat the surface thereof, as hereinbefore set forth.

I do not wish to be restricted to the specific structural details herein set forth, as various modifications thereof may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed as are indicated in the appended.

claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a liquid rheostat, the combination with a containing-tank having dischargin means, of liquid-admitting means located below the flush-level plane of the rheostat and adapted to reduce the entrance velocity of the liquid to said tank.

2. In a liquid rheostat, the combination with a containing tank having discharging means, of liquid-admitting means located below the fluslrlevel plane of the rheostat and adapted to reduce the entrance velocity of the liquid to said tank, the liquid continuously flowing from said admitting means through said discharging means.

8. In a liquid rheostat, the combination with a containing tank having discharging means located near one side of the tank, of a weir device for admitting liquid to said tank, and a plurality of electrodes extending intermediate said weir device and said discharging means, the bottom of said electrodes being located above said weir device.

4. In a liquid rheostat, the combination with a containing tank and a plurality of electrodes disposed therein, of velocity-reducing liquid-admitting means disposed near one set of side electrode edges and below the plane of the lower electrode edges, and discharging means located near the opposite side edges thereof.

5. In a liquid rheostat, the combination with a containing tank and a plurality of electrodes disposed therein, of continuousfiow, velocity reducing liquid admitting means and continuously-discharging means respectively located near the opposite side edges of said electrodes, said liquid-admitting means being located entirely below the plane of the lower electrode edges.

6. In a liquid rheostat, the combination with a containing-tank, of a tube extending across said tank and having a liquid-distributing side opening, a velocity-reducing chamber communicating with said opening, and means for conducting the liquid away from said chamber.

7. In a liquid rheostat, the combination with a containing tank, of a tube extending across said tank and having a liquid-distrib-' uting side opening, a chamber communicating with said opening, and a weir device for conducting the liquid away from sald chamher.

8. In a liquid rheostat, the combination with a containing-tank, of a tube extending across said tank and having a liquid-obs tributing side opening, a velocity-reducing chamber communicating with said opening, and a weir device for conducting the liquid from said chamber into said tank.

9. In a liquid rheostat, the combination with a containing-tank, of liquid-admitting means adapted to cause the incoming liquid to follow a s iral path.

10. In a liquid rheostat, the combination with a containing-tank, of liquid-admitting means adapted to cause the incoming liquid to follow a predetermined spiral path, and a weir device for effecting the entrance of liquid to the tank proper.

11. In a liquid rheostat, the combination with a containing-tank. of liquid-admitting means adapted to cause the incomin liquid to follow a predetermined spiral path and to decrease in velocity.

12. In a liquid rheostat, the combination with a containing-tank, and a plurality of elctrodes dis osed therein, of discharging means disposed near one set of electrode edges, and liquid-admitting means located near the opposite edges and adapted to cause the liquid to follow a spiral path of entrance.

13. In a liquid rheostat, the combination with a containing-tank, and a plurality of electrodes disposed therein, of continuouslydischarging means disposed near one set of electrode edges, continuous-flow liquid-admitting means located near the opposite edges and adapted to cause the liquid to fol low a spiral incoming path, and a weir device for effecting the entrance of liquid to the tank proper. i

14. In a liquid rheostat, the combination with a containing-tank, and a plurality of electrodes disposed therein, of a tube e tending across said tank and havlng a liquiddistributing side opening, a veloc1ty-reducing chamber communicating with said opening, means for conducting the liquid away from said chamber, and discharging means located on the opposite side of said electrodes from the liquid-admitting means.

15. In a liquid rheostat, the combination with a containingta-nk, and a plurality of electrodes disposed therein, of a tube extendingacross said tank, and having a continuous-flow, liquid-distributing side opening, a velocity-reducing chamber communicating with said opening, a weir device for conducting the liquid from said chamber into said tank, and continuously-discharging means located near the opposite edges of said electrodes from the liquid-admitting means.

16. In a liquid rheostat, the combination with a containing-tank, and a plurality of electrodes, of an outlet valve normally open to effect a continuous discharge of liquid, and means comprising a weir device located below said electrodes for continuously admitting liquid to said tank without splashing when said valve is open. i

17. In a liquid rheostat, the combination with a containing-tank, of an outlet valve having a discharge opening in the tank bottom, and a liquid-admitting weir device adapted to cause the incoming liquid to follow a predetermined spiral path and located on a higher level than said opening, whereby splashing is substantially prevented when said valve is open.

18. In a liquid rheostat, the combination with a containing-tank, of an outlet valve normally open to effect a continuous discharge of liquid and adapted to fix the liquid level in accordance with the height thereof during rheostat operation, and means for effecting the maximum continuous flow of liquid at the surface thereof throughout the range of travel of said valve.

19. In a liquid rheostat, the combination with a containing-tank, of liquid-admitting means embodying a weir disposed below the flush-level plane of the rheostat.

20. In a liquid rheostat, the combination with a containing-tank, of a tube extending across said tank and having a continuousflow liquid-distributing side opening, a velocity-reducing chamber communicating with said opening and a weir device located below the flush-level plane of the rheostat for conducting the liquid from said chamber into the tank proper.

21. In a liquid rheostat, the combination with a containing-tank, having a bottom discharge opening for continuously discharging the liquid when the rheostat is not operating, a tubular outflow-conducting valve slidable within said opening to fix the liquid level, and a weir device located below the flush-level plane of the rheostat for continuously effecting the maximum flow of liquid at the surface thereof throughout the range of travel of said valve.

22. In a liquid rheostat having a bottom discharge opening, the combination with a on the opposite side from said liquid-admitting means and having a central discharge 10 opening of materially smaller size.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 31st day of May, 1916.

ARTHUR J. HALL. 

